San Antonio isn't just about the Alamo and its fabled River Walk; it's fast becoming a hub for film buffs with two major summer film festivals. CineFestival and the San Antonio Film Festival are rolling out the red carpet for local and international cinema, with a combined offering of over 350 films from around the world.
First on the scene, CineFestival, the nation's oldest Latinx film festival is now in its 45th year. The event, slated for July 11-14, will screen an eclectic mix of 108 films at the Carver Community Cultural Center and Alamo Drafthouse Park North, according to the San Antonio Report. Eugenio del Bosque, the festival director, points out that "there's something for everyone. It’s not a closed circle of artists or only for Chicanos or Latinos."
Border-busting themes like migration, human trafficking, and environmental segregation share screen time with feel-good coming-of-age stories and laugh-out-loud comedies. For instance, Isaac Rodriguez’s "Tamale Season" adds a pinch of humor, reflecting producer Cynthia Bergen's desire to "expand my genre as a filmmaker," as she told the San Antonio Report. CineFestival isn't just talking the diversity talk; they're ensuring access too, with all-access passes priced at $45 and many screenings offered free with a suggested donation.
San Antonio Film Festival, which gears up from July 30 to August 4. Known for its international flavor, the festival has grown significantly since its inception, with an estimated 250 films on this year’s docket. Adam Rocha, the festival's founder and a local film educator, believes in nurturing the next generation of filmmakers, evidenced by scholarships being dished out to the most promising San Antonio-based and high school filmmakers. As Lennon Maldanado, the feature film programmer highlighted, global offerings include unique pieces like "Your Mother’s Son" from the Philippines and Native American director Ivey Camille Manybeads' "Powerlands".
Film enthusiasts can catch these and other cinema gems at various venues, including the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts and Radius Center. Screening details and the full lineup are awaiting eager eyes on the festival's website as San Antonio prominently positions itself on the world’s cinematic map this summer.
